International Week kicks off May 14

The campus community is readying itself for International Week 2011, an annual celebration of cultural diversity on Ohio University's Athens campus. Between May 14 and 22, the University will celebrate its global heritage through music, food, crafts and speakers – including Arun Ghandi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.

Made possible by a collaboration of student organizations, University departments and the city and community of Athens, International Week and the International Street Fair are the highlight of the year for OHIO's international community, said Director of International Student and Faculty Services (ISFS) Krista McCallum Beatty.

The week will kick off with the grand opening of the Walter International Education Center on May 14. Home to the Office of Education Abroad and ISFS, the newly renovated building at 15 Park Place will serve as a one-stop shop for OHIO’s international and internationally-bound students.

On Monday, May 16, Ghandi will deliver International Week's keynote address: Lessons learned from my grandfather: Non-violence in a violent world.

Gandhi will be speaking about growing up during apartheid in South Africa, his thoughts about nonviolent social reform and how his grandfather's advice helped shape the man he has become. The address will take place at 7 p.m. at Templeton Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.

Gandhi's message of peace inspired this year's International Week theme: "Building a Legacy: Peace by Piece."

"We liked incorporating the play on words to illustrate the interconnectivity of the actual pieces for the poster and the idea that we are all connected as global citizens but also laying that foundation one piece at a time to build that legacy," said Amanda Yusko, international student adviser and event planner with ISFS.

Sponsored by the International Student Union, the Student Activities Commission, ISFS and the International Week Committee, International Week offers more than 15 cultural events for the campus and local communities.

This year's line-up includes a handful of old favorites, such as:

• A Taste of Study AbroadMay 18 from 5-7 p.m. in Grover Atrium
• International Student Union Talent ShowMay 19 from 6-9 p.m. in Baker University Center Theater
• World Cup Soccer tournamentMay 15 and 22 at 11 a.m. on East Green

There are also several new events being added to the mix, including:

• The Role of Women Around the World ForumMay 17 from 6-7:30 p.m. in Baker Center 242
• Global Scoop, an international ice cream socialMay 19 from 2-4 p.m. on the Walter International Education Center porch
• Presentations on the Transatlantic Climate Bridge ProjectMay 20 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. & 3-5 p.m. in the Cunningham Leadership Center (Baker University Center 3rd Floor)

As always, the week will culminate with the International Street Fair on May 21.

The fair, which runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Court Street, is a collaboration of the University's international student groups and nonprofit community organizations. More than 30 groups will have stands at this year's fair -- making it one of the biggest street fairs in the event's 29-year history.

"International Week is a long-standing tradition at OHIO," said McCallum Beatty. "It is a celebration of the international community at the university and provides many opportunities for people to learn about countries and cultures around the world."